This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone April 17-20, 2017, among
a random national sample of 1,004 adults, including landline and cell phone
respondents. Results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage
points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Abt Associates of Cambridge, Mass.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as
president? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

4/20/17

-------- Approve -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
42
27
15

------- Disapprove -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
53
10
43

No
opinion
5

2. Do you approve or disapprove of [ITEM]? How about [NEXT ITEM]?
4/20/17 – Summary Table
Approve
a. the major changes in government spending
that Trump has proposed
b. Trump pressuring companies to keep jobs
in the United States
c. Trump giving his daughter and son-in-law
major positions in his administration

Disapprove

No opinion

37

50

13

73

22

5

34

61

6

3. In terms of the situation with North Korea, do you feel that Trump has been too
(cautious), too (aggressive), or is he handling this about right?

4/20/17

Too
cautious
7

Too
aggressive
37

About
right
46

No
opinion
9

4. Do you think [ITEM] is in touch with the concerns of most people in the United
States today, or is [it/he] out of touch? How about [NEXT ITEM]?
4/20/17 – Summary Table
In
Out of
touch
touch
a. Trump
38
58
b. the Republican party
32
62
c. the Democratic party
28
67
*Half sample asked b, other half asked c
Trend:
a. No trend
Compare to Barack Obama
3/2/14
4/14/13

In touch
48
51

Out of touch
49
46

No opinion
2
2

b. the Republican party
4/20/17

In touch
32

Out of touch
62

No opinion
7

No
opinion
4
7
6

 3/2/14
4/14/13

28
23

68
70

4
7

c. the Democratic party
4/20/17
3/2/14
4/14/13

In touch
28
48
43

Out of touch
67
48
51

No opinion
6
4
6

5. Did you happen to vote in the last presidential election, when Donald Trump ran
against Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, or did you skip that one?
4/20/17

Did vote
74

Did not vote
26

No opinion
*

6. (ASK IF VOTED IN LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION) Which candidate did you vote for?

4/20/17

Donald
Trump
43

Hillary
Clinton
46

Gary
Johnson
4

Jill
Stein
2

Someone
else (vol.)
3

No
opinion
2

7. (ASK IF VOTED FOR TRUMP) At the time, would you say you were very enthusiastic
about supporting Trump, somewhat enthusiastic, not so enthusiastic, or not
enthusiastic at all?

4/20/17

---- Enthusiastic --NET
Very
Somewhat
91
53
38

---- Not enthusiastic --NET
Not so
Not at all
8
6
2

No
opinion
1

Compare to:
(ASK IF SUPPORT TRUMP) Would you say you are very enthusiastic about supporting Trump,
somewhat enthusiastic, not so enthusiastic, or not enthusiastic at all?

11/6/16
11/5/16
11/4/16
11/3/16
11/2/16
11/1/16
10/31/16
10/30/16
10/29/16
10/28/16
10/27/16
10/24/16
10/23/16
10/22/16
10/13/16
9/22/16
9/8/16

LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV

--- Enthusiastic ---NET
Very
Somewhat
88
56
32
87
54
33
88
54
34
87
51
36
86
53
34
86
53
33
85
52
33
84
53
31
84
52
32
83
52
31
81
49
32
83
50
33
83
50
33
83
49
34
79
47
32
91
55
36
85
48
37

--- Not enthusiastic ---NET
Not so
Not at all
12
7
4
13
6
6
11
6
6
11
6
5
13
7
6
13
8
5
15
9
5
16
10
6
15
10
5
17
11
6
18
11
7
17
9
7
16
10
6
17
11
6
21
12
9
8
5
3
15
10
4

No
opinion
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
*
*
*
1
*
*
0
*
1
*

8. (ASK IF VOTED FOR TRUMP) Do you (regret supporting Trump), or do you (think that
supporting Trump was the right thing to do) in that election?
Regret

Supporting Trump was

No

 4/20/17

supporting Trump
2

the right thing to do
96

opinion
1

9. Who would you vote for if the election was held again today – [(Trump), (Clinton),]
[(Johnson) or (Stein)]?

4/20/17
2016 voters

Trump
37
43

Clinton
41
40

Johnson
5
5

Stein
3
3

Other
(vol.)
4
3

None of
these
(vol.)
5
4

Would
not vote
(vol.)
2
1

No
opinion
3
2

10. Would you say Trump is doing a better job as president than you expected, a worse
job, or what? Is that much better/worse or somewhat better/worse?

4/20/17

----- Better ----NET
Much
Smwht
35
14
21

------ Worse ----NET
Smwht
Much
35
13
22

As expected
(vol.)
26

No
opinion
5

Compare to:
Would you say Obama is doing a better job as president than you expected, a worse job,
or what? Is that much better/worse or somewhat better/worse?

11/2/11*
1/15/10
9/12/09
4/24/09
2/22/09

----- Better ----NET
Much
Smwht
39
14
25
33
12
22
42
18
24
54
25
29
46
18
28

------ Worse ----NET
Smwht
Much
45
21
24
35
18
17
31
13
18
18
10
9
14
8
7

Bush:
1/18/04
1/27/02
7/30/01
4/22/01

43
75
39
39

31
5
23
21

NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA
NA

As expected
(vol.)
9
30
25
23
31

No
opinion
6
2
2
4
9

25
20
36
37

2
1
2
3

34
35

3
8

NA
NA
NA
NA

Clinton:
4/26/93
35
NA
NA
28
NA
NA
2/28/93
38
12
27
19
12
7
*11/2/11: Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation

11. Trump has been president for about three months or nearly 100 days. Would you say
he has accomplished a great deal during that time, a good amount, not very much or
little or nothing?

4/20/17

-Grt deal/Good amtGreat
Good
NET
deal
amt
42
16
27

-- Not much/nothing -Not
Little or
NET
much
nothing
56
21
35

No
opinion
2

Compare to:
Obama: has been president for about three months or nearly 100 days. Would you say he
has accomplished a great deal during that time, a good amount, not very much or little
or nothing?
-Grt deal/Good amt-- Not much/nothing -Great
Good
Not
Little or
No
NET
deal
amt
NET
much
nothing
opinion

 4/24/09

63

24

39

36

21

15

1

Clinton:
4/26/93

37

5

32

63

38

25

*

12. (ASK IF NOT VERY MUCH/LITTLE OR NOTHING) Who's mainly responsible for that –
(Trump), (the Republicans in Congress), or (the Democrats in Congress)?

4/20/17

Trump
47

Reps
26

Dems
7

The
courts
(vol.)
0

The
media
(vol.)
*

Any
Two
(vol.)
6

All
equally
(vol.)
10

None
of them
(vol.)
1

Compare to:

4/24/09

Obama
49

4/26/93

Clinton
40

Republicans
24
Republicans
40

Neither
(vol.)
8
Neither
(vol.)
1

Both
(vol.)
16

No
opinion
3

Both
(vol.)
17

No
opinion
2

13. Is Trump keeping most of his major campaign promises, or not?
4/20/17

Yes
44

No
41

Some (vol.)
8

No opinion
7

Compare to:
Obama:
1/15/10
4/24/09

Yes
41
60

No
46
26

Some (vol.)
8
8

No opinion
4
6

Clinton:
5/15/94
1/23/94
4/26/93

37
37
42

48
46
50

11
7
6

5
10
2

14. Do you think Trump has the kind of [ITEM] it takes to serve effectively as
president, or not?
4/20/17 – Summary Table
a. judgment
b. personality and temperament

Yes
41
38

Trend:
a. No trend.
b. personality and temperament
4/20/17
10/13/16 RV
9/22/16

Yes
38
34
35

No
59
64
61

No opinion
3
3
4

No
56
59

No opinion
3
3

No
op.
3

 8/4/16
31
67
2
3/6/16
25
72
3
9/10/15*
33
63
4
*”Please tell me whether the following statement applies to Trump, or not: He has the
kind of personality and temperament it takes to serve effectively as president”
15. Do you think Trump [ITEM], or not?
4/20/17 – Summary Table
a.
b.
c.
d.

is a strong leader
understands the problems of people like you
is honest and trustworthy
can be trusted in a crisis

Trend:
a. is a strong leader
No trend.
Compare to:
Yes

No

No opinion

Obama*:
10/26/14
9/7/14
1/23/14
11/17/13
9/15/13
1/13/13
1/15/12
11/3/11
6/5/11
6/6/10
3/26/10
1/15/10
7/18/09
4/24/09
1/16/09

46
43
48
46
54
61
51
48
55
57
65
63
71
77
72

52
55
51
53
44
37
48
51
44
43
33
35
27
22
18

2
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
10

Bush:
1/19/07
3/5/06
1/26/06
12/18/05
11/2/05
9/11/05
5/23/04
4/18/04
3/7/04
2/11/04
12/21/03
10/29/03
9/13/03
4/30/03
12/15/02
7/15/02
7/30/01
4/22/01
10/9/00 RV
9/6/00 RV

45
52
52
51
47
50
62
64
63
61
67
62
66
74
75
75
55
53
62
65

54
48
48
49
53
50
37
36
36
38
32
37
34
25
23
24
43
42
33
28

1
*
*
*
*
*
1
1
1
1
2
1
*
*
2
1
2
5
5
7

Yes
53
37
38
43

No
45
61
58
52

No opinion
2
2
4
4

 8/20/00 RV
8/10/00 RV
7/23/00 RV
7/23/00
6/11/00
4/2/00
3/11/00
2/27/00
2/6/00
1/16/00
12/15/99
10/31/99
9/2/99
3/14/99

65
67
61
62
65
68
63
62
65
65
67
77
70
68

29
29
33
32
30
27
31
32
30
28
26
18
18
13

5
5
6
5
6
5
6
6
7
7
7
5
12
20

Clinton:
1/15/01
2/7/99
9/13/98
8/23/97
8/21/98
8/19/98
7/12/98
4/4/98
3/16/98
2/18/98
3/17/96
6/8/95
3/5/95
10/31/94
8/16/94
3/27/94
10/4/92 RV
6/7/92

67
71
60
68
67
60
59
62
63
68
50
37
38
43
41
54
50
40

32
27
38
31
32
39
38
36
36
31
49
61
61
56
58
44
36
46

1
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
14
14

Reagan:
6/29/87**
60
39
1
3/9/87
58
41
1
*Obama, Bush and Clinton: Please tell me whether the following statement applies to
[INSERT], or not. He is a strong leader
**Reagan: Would you describe Reagan as a strong leader, or not?
b. understands the problems of people like you
4/20/17
3/6/16
9/10/15*

Yes
37
26
29

No
61
72
67

No opinion
2
2
4

46
49
47
52
47
55
51
49
49
58
50

52
48
52
46
51
43
47
49
49
40
48

2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

Compare to:
Obama*:
10/26/14
9/7/14
1/23/14
12/15/13
11/17/13
1/13/13
1/15/12
11/3/11
6/5/11
1/16/11
9/2/10

 6/6/10
3/26/10
1/15/10
7/18/09
4/24/09
1/16/09

51
56
57
63
73
72

48
43
42
35
25
24

Bush:
1/19/07
3/5/06
1/26/06
11/2/05
9/11/05
8/28/05
4/24/05
1/16/05
5/23/04
4/18/04
3/7/04
2/11/04
1/18/04
12/21/03
10/29/03
9/13/03
4/30/03
12/15/02
7/15/02
1/27/02
7/30/01
4/22/01
11/4/00
10/24/00
10/15/00
10/9/00
9/6/00
8/20/00
7/23/00
6/11/00
4/2/00
3/11/00
2/27/00
2/6/00
1/16/00
12/15/99
10/31/99
9/2/99
3/14/99

32
37
38
34
38
40
40
43
42
41
41
41
43
45
40
48
51
51
57
61
45
47
49
50
46
50
47
50
44
48
48
47
43
43
46
47
54
50
52

67
62
61
66
61
59
58
56
57
57
57
57
56
53
58
51
48
47
41
37
54
51
46
46
46
44
49
46
51
47
46
47
51
52
49
46
39
39
27

Clinton:
1/15/01
2/7/99
9/13/98
8/23/97
8/21/98
8/19/98
7/12/98
5/12/98
4/4/98
3/16/98
2/18/98
6/8/97
1/15/97
9/4/96 RV

LV
LV
RV
RV
RV
RV

54
64
57
59
63
54
54
65
56
62
63
52
50
57

2
2
2
1
1
4

43
33
41
38
36
44
43
34
41
36
35
45
49
40

2
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
5
3
7
6
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
5
6
7
7
11
21
2
3
3
3
2
2
3
1
3
2
2
3
2
2

 8/5/96
55
43
2
6/30/96
56
41
3
3/17/96
55
43
1
6/8/95
51
45
3
3/19/95
55
43
2
3/5/95
50
49
2
10/31/94**
48
50
2
10/23/94**
44
54
1
6/26/94
52
46
2
3/27/94**
63
35
2
1/23/94
55
39
5
4/26/93
60
39
1
1/17/93
76
20
4
10/4/92 RV**
67
28
6
6/7/92 RV
59
33
8
4/9/92
49
42
9
*Trump 9/10/15 and previous: Please tell me whether the following statement applies to
[INSERT], or not. He understands the problems of people like you
**"understands the needs and problems of average Americans"
c. is honest and trustworthy
Yes
38
34
38
31
34
27
35

No
58
64
57
64
62
69
59

Obama*:
9/7/14
1/23/14
12/15/13
11/17/13
10/13/12 RV
11/3/11
4/24/09
1/16/09
12/14/08

49
49
50
47
56
57
74
75
67

48
48
48
50
40
39
22
19
22

3
4
2
3
4
5
4
6
11

Bush:
1/19/07
3/5/06
1/26/06
12/18/05
11/2/05
5/23/04
4/18/04
3/7/04
2/11/04
10/29/03
9/13/03
12/15/02
7/15/02
7/30/01
4/22/01
11/5/00 LV
11/4/00 LV
10/24/00 LV

40
44
46
49
40
53
55
54
52
59
60
70
71
63
62
60
61
65

57
55
53
50
58
45
44
45
45
40
39
26
26
34
32
33
33
30

3
1
*
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
4
3
3
6
7
7
5

4/20/17
10/13/16 RV
9/22/16
9/8/16
8/4/16
3/6/16
9/10/15*

No opinion
4
3
5
4
4
4
6

Compare to:

 10/15/00 LV
10/15/00 RV
9/6/00 RV
7/23/00 RV
7/23/00
12/15/99
10/31/99
9/2/99
3/14/99

57
53
62
61
59
63
68
63
67

34
35
30
30
31
28
22
23
12

9
12
7
8
10
9
10
14
22

Clinton:
1/15/01
29
67
3
2/7/99
28
69
3
9/13/98
24
73
2
8/23/97
28
66
6
8/21/98
28
69
2
8/19/98
24
73
3
7/12/98
33
60
7
5/12/98
38
59
3
4/4/98
35
58
7
3/16/98
35
60
5
2/18/98
40
55
5
6/8/97
37
59
4
1/15/97
42
54
4
1/6/97
42
53
5
11/3/96 RV
42
52
6
9/4/96 RV
43
52
5
8/5/96
44
52
4
6/30/96
40
54
6
3/17/96
44
53
2
4/5/95
42
55
2
3/27/94**
54
42
4
10/4/92 RV**
44
44
3
6/7/92**
40
47
12
*Trump 9/10/15 and previous: Please tell me whether the following statement applies to
[INSERT], or not. He understands the problems of people like you
**Wording "and trustworthy" omitted
d. can be trusted in a crisis
No trend.
Compare to:
Yes

No

No opinion

Obama:
10/26/14
4/24/09
1/16/09

49
73
69

47
21
18

4
6
13

Bush:
1/19/07
1/26/06
11/2/05
9/11/05
5/23/04
7/30/01
4/22/01
12/15/99
9/2/99

42
53
49
49
60
60
65
62
58

56
47
49
49
39
37
32
27
22

2
1
2
2
1
3
4
11
19

Clinton:

 3/17/96
56
41
3
10/31/94
52
44
4
8/16/94
42
53
5
3/27/94
55
38
6
10/4/92 RV
45
36
19
6/7/92
37
42
22
*Obama and previous: Please tell me whether the following statement applies to [ITEM],
or not: He can be trusted in a crisis
16. In establishing his administration’s policies, do you think Trump does or does not
follow a set of consistent principles? (IF NO) Do you think that’s a problem, or not a
problem?

4/20/17

Does follow
consistent principles
40

- Does not follow principlesNET
Problem
Not a problem
55
48
7

No
opinion
6

17. (HALF SAMPLE) Do you think that Trump spending time at properties that he owns
represents a conflict of interest because it promotes those properties, or do you
think this is not a conflict of interest because he has the right to go where he
wants?

4/20/17

Represents a
conflict of interest
43

Is not a conflict
of interest
54

No
opinion
4

18. Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse or staying the
same?

4/20/17
10/26/14
4/27/14
10/21/12 LV

Getting
better
30

Getting
worse
18

28
28
37

31
36
36

Staying
the same
49

4/17/11* RV
29
44
10/28/10
26
34
10/3/10
31
32
9/2/10
24
38
7/11/10
27
32
6/6/10
30
30
*"the national economy"
Contact polls@washpost.com for full

No
opinion
3

40
35
25

1
1
2

27
39
37
38
41
39

*
1
*
1
*
1

trend.

On another subject…
19. Which of these do you prefer: (repeal and replace) the federal health care law
known as Obamacare, or (keep and try to improve) it?

4/20/17

Repeal
and replace
37

Keep and try
to improve
61

Leave as
is (vol.)
1

No
opinion
2

19a. (ASK IF NOT LEAVE AS IS) Who would you rather see Trump work with in trying to
change the health care law – (the Democrats in Congress) or (the conservative
Republicans in Congress)?

 4/20/17

Democrats
in Congress
43

Conservative
Republicans in Congress
26

Both equally
(vol.)
24

Neither
(vol.)
3

No
opinion
4

20. While any changes are pending, do you think Trump should try to (make the existing
health care law work as well as possible) or should try to (make the current health
care law fail as soon as possible)?

4/20/17

Make existing
law work
79

Make current
law fail
13

No
opinion
8

21. (HALF SAMPLE) Under the current law many health insurance plans have to include
certain kinds of coverage, including preventive services, maternity and pediatric
care, hospitalization and prescription drugs. Do you think this should be required in
all states, or should individual states decide what if any minimum coverage should be
provided?

4/20/17

Require in
all states
62

Individual
states decide
33

No
opinion
4

22. (HALF SAMPLE) Under the current law, health insurers are not allowed to charge
higher prices to – or refuse to cover – people who have pre-existing health
conditions. Do you think this should be required in all states, or should individual
states decide what if any rules about pre-existing conditions should be in place?

4/20/17

Require in
all states
70

Individual
states decide
26

No
opinion
5

Switching topics…
23. Federal courts have blocked Trump’s effort to ban travelers from several majorityMuslim countries from entering the United States. Do you think the courts are (acting
rightly as a check on the president’s powers) or are they (wrongly interfering with
the president’s powers)?

4/20/17

Courts are
acting rightly
58

Courts are wrongly
interfering
36

No
opinion
6

24. There’s been talk of what some people call a “deep state,” meaning military,
intelligence and government officials who try to secretly manipulate government
policy. Do you think there is such a thing as a deep state in this country, or is it
just a conspiracy theory?

4/20/17

Such a thing
as a deep state
48

Conspiracy
theory
35

No
opinion
17

25. (ASK IF THINK THERE IS A DEEP STATE) Do you think the existence of a deep state is
a major problem for the United States, a minor problem, or not a problem?

4/20/17

Major
problem
58

Minor
problem
29

Not a
problem
11

No
opinion
3

 24/25 NET

4/20/17

---------- There is a deep state ---------Major
Minor
Not a
No
NET
problem
problem
problem
opinion
48
28
14
5
1

Deep state is
conspiracy
theory
35

No
opinion
17

26. Do you think mainstream news organizations regularly produce false stories, or
not?
4/20/17

Yes
52

No
44

No opinion
5

27. Do you think the Trump administration regularly makes false claims, or not?
4/20/17

Yes
59

No
35

No opinion
6

28. What do you think is a bigger problem – (mainstream news organizations producing
false stories) or (the Trump administration making false claims)?

4/20/17

News organizations
Producing false stories
40

Trump administration
making false claims
43

Both equally
(vol.)
11

Neither
(vol.)
1

No
op
4

On another topic…
29. Given what you’ve heard or read, do you think the Russian government tried to
influence the outcome of last fall’s U.S. presidential election, or not?

4/20/17

Tried to
influence
56

Did not try
to influence
35

No
opinion
9

30. (ASK IF TRIED TO INFLUENCE) Do you think some members of Trump’s presidential
campaign intentionally helped Russian efforts to influence the election, or not?
4/20/17

Yes
71

No
22

No opinion
8

29/30 NET

4/20/17

----------------- Did try to influence ---------------Trump campaign
Trump campaign didn’t
No
NET
intentionally helped
intentionally help
op.
56
39
12
5

Did not try
to influence
35

No
op.
9

31. Do you think the Obama administration intentionally spied on Trump and members of
his campaign during the 2016 election campaign, or not?
4/20/17

Yes
32

No
58

No opinion
10

 32. Are you confident or not confident that Congress’ investigation of Russia’s role
in the 2016 election will be conducted fairly?
4/20/17

Confident
42

Not confident
50

No opinion
7

Party ID. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as (a Democrat), (a
Republican), an independent or what?
4/20/17
1/15/17
10/13/16
9/22/16
9/8/16
8/4/16
7/14/16
6/23/16
5/19/16
3/6/16

Democrat
31
31
33
33
34
33
33
36
33
34

Republican
24
23
25
23
24
23
23
24
25
25

Independent
36
37
33
36
33
36
35
33
35
32

Other (vol.)
6
5
5
6
5
5
5
5
4
5

No opinion
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
3
5

*** END ***
METHODOLOGICAL DETAILS
This poll was jointly sponsored and funded by The Washington Post and ABC News. The
poll is a random sample of the United States, conducted with interviews in English and
Spanish.
This questionnaire was administered with the exact questions in the exact order as
they appear in this document. Demographic questions are not shown. If a question was
asked of a reduced base of the sample, a parenthetical preceding the question
identifies the group asked. Phrases surrounded by parentheticals within questions
indicate clauses that were randomly rotated for respondents.
A dual frame landline and cell phone telephone sample was generated using Random Digit
Dialing procedures by Survey Sampling International (SSI). Interviewers called
landlines and cellular phone numbers, first requesting to speak with the youngest
adult male or female at home. The final sample included 352 interviews completed on
landlines and 652 interviews completed via cellular phones, including 406 interviews
with adults in cell phone-only households.
This survey uses statistical weighting procedures to account for deviations in the
survey sample from known population characteristics, which helps correct for
differential survey participation and random variation in samples. The overall adult
sample is weighted to correct for differential probabilities of selection among
individuals who are landline-only, cell phone-only or dual users. Results are also
weighted match the demographic makeup of the population by sex, region, age, education
and race/ethnicity according to the latest Current Population Survey Social and
Economic Supplement by age, race/ethnicity, sex and education.
All error margins have been adjusted to account for the survey’s design effect, which
is 1.3 for this survey. The design effect is a factor representing the survey’s
deviation from a simple random sample, and takes into account decreases in precision
due to sample design and weighting procedures. Surveys that do not incorporate a
design effect overstate their precision.
Group
All adults
Half sample

Unweighted
sample size
1,004
490-511

Error margin
+/- 3.5 points
5

 The Washington Post is a charter member of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, which
recognizes organizations that disclose key methodological details on the research they
produce.
Contact polls@washpost.com for further information about how The Washington Post
conducts polls.